Sugar Export

The government is unlikely to permit additional sugar exports this year as untimely rains have impacted the production in Maharashtra, Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra said on Thursday. The food ministry has allowed 6 million tonnes of sugar exports for the current 2022-23 marketing year (October-September). Out of which, about 4 million tonnes have been exported so far, as per the trade report. "We have a sugar production target of 38.6 million tonnes (including diversion for ethanol). Maybe production will go down by 2-3 lakh tonnes due to unseasonal rains in Maharashtra," Chopra told reporters on the sidelines of a press conference here. In view of likely fall in sugar output, the Secretary said, "Additional sugar export quota is unlikely to be allowed." Sugar production in India, the world's second largest sugar producing nation after Brazil, remained lower by three per cent at 29.96 million tonnes in the first six months of the 2022-23 marketing year ending September, as per the

The matter will be heard next on March 23

India has exported 27.83 lakh tonnes of sugar till February 9 of the ongoing 2022-23 marketing year, with Bangladesh and Indonesia being the top markets, trade body AISTA said on Thursday. Among other nations, India has exported 2.47 lakh tonnes of the sweetener to Djibouti, 2.46 lakh tonnes to Somalia and 2.06 lakh tonnes to the UAE during October-February 9 of the current marketing year, the All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA) said in a statement. The sugar marketing year runs from October to September. The government has allowed export of 60 lakh tonnes till May of the 2022-23 marketing year. According to AISTA, mills have exported a total of 27,83,536 tonnes of sugar from October 1, 2022 to February 9 this year. About 4.24 lakh tonne is under loading, while 3.79 lakh tonne of sugar has been delivered to refineries, considered to be deemed export in the said period, it added. Sugar exports from India, the world's major sugar producing nation, stood at 112 lakh tonnes in t

Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday assured leaders from Maharashtra that the Centre would soon increase the export quota sugar and take steps to help the ailing sugar industry in the state. Shah gave the assurance during a meeting with Maharashtra BJP leaders, who also have stakes in the sugar cooperatives sector. The state leaders were part of a delegation led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis. "The export quota (for sugar) has been exhausted. Since Maharashtra is a coastal state, we can export sugar through our ports. The minister also took a constructive approach on the issue and assured us to increase the quota or take an appropriate decision in this regard," Fadnavis told reporters here. The meeting was attended by BJP leaders Raosaheb Patil Danve, Pankaja Munde, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Harshvardhan Patil, and Dhananjay Mahadik, among others. Shinde said the delegation apprised Shah about the difficulties faced by the

The government may consider increasing sugar export quota for the current 2022-23 marketing year after assessing the domestic production in January. In November, the government allowed export of 60 lakh tonnes of sugar for the 2022-23 marketing year (October-September). India exported a record 111 lakh tonnes of sugar in 2021-22 marketing year. On being asked if the government will consider increasing export quota, Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra said the ministry will assess the domestic production of sugar in January and then decide whether to raise the quota or not. The food secretary was speaking on the sidelines of Annual General Meeting (AGM) of industry body ISMA. Addressing the AGM, Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) President Aditya Jhunjhunwala hoped that the government will increase the export quota from the current 60 lakh tonnes. "We are grateful that exports are allowed with the option provided to sugar mills to exchange their export quota with domestic sugar sale

India's approval came late on Saturday for the export of 6 million tonnes of sugar in the 2022/2023 marketing year that started on Oct 1

The government, which has allowed export of 6 million tonne of sugar till May 31 of the ongoing 2022-23 season, on Sunday said it could consider allowing more export after periodic assessment of the domestic production. A food ministry notification issued on November 5 said export quota of 6 million tonne has been permitted from November 1 till May 31, 2023 with an option for millers to export on their own or through exporters or swap with domestic sale quota. In a statement issued on Sunday, the ministry said the export quota has been fixed based on the available initial estimates of sugarcane production in the country. "The sugarcane production in the country will be reviewed periodically and based on the latest available estimates, the quantity of sugar exports to be allowed could be reconsidered," the ministry said. Mills have been asked to export allocated sugar quota speedily to make early payment to cane farmers, it said. Mill-wise sugar export quota has been fixed for the

Mills in India, which vies with Brazil as the world's top sugar producer, have so far contracted to export about 1.2 million tons and aim to ship as much as 8 million tons in the 2022-23 year

The apex sugar body has urged the govt to not experiment with a new export system

India plans to restrict sugar exports for the first time in six years to prevent a surge in domestic prices, potentially capping this season's exports at 10 million tonnes

Mills have already dispatched around 7.1 million tonnes since the start of the marketing year on Oct. 1, the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said

Mills pause after signing deals to export 4 mn tonnes of sugar; diversion of sugar for ethanol reduces stockpiles, say dealers

India could start 2021/22 marketing year on Oct. 1 with carry forward stock of 8.7 million tonnes, down from 10.7 million tonnes a year ago, said Indian Sugar Mills Association

Mills have so far contracted around 5.8 million tonnes of sugar out of the export allocation of 6 million tonnes

Trade sources said it might not impact exports much; of the existing quota of 6 million tonnes, 5.7 million tonnes have already been contracted at higher subsidy rate

The Centre slashed subsidy on sugar exports from Rs 6,000 per tonne to Rs 4,000 per tonne with immediate effect in view of firm global prices

Newer opportunities such as exporting to Indonesia are being thrown up but early closure of mills could be an issue

There was a discussion for a two-way deal under which India will give priority to import palm oil from Indonesia against which the latter was offering to buy raw sugar from here

Union minister Danve Raosaheb Dadarao said sugar mills were advised to export sugar as per their MIEQ (Minimum Indicative Export Quota) allocation

By availing the CXL concession on export to the EU, traders can export sugar at relatively low or zero customs duty